Aeroplane



July 1933- L. c. MICHAELSEN 1,918,656

AEROPLANF Filed July 30, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 17. afiz'akae 25670,

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AEROPLANE Filed July so, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 K x N) [IF f 2 & Q,

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' AEROPLANE Filed July 50, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Z Cf/Vz'cfiaeZsen,

By 2mm July 18, 1933- L. c. MICHAELSEN AEROPLANE Filed July 30, 19 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A Home y Patented July 18, 1933 LEONARD c. MICHAELSEN, or now CITY, foam 1 AEROILANE Application filed July 30,

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in aeroplanes and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vehicle of this character embodying a novel construction and arrangement of propulsion means through the medium of which the elliciency of aeroplanes will be materially increased.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane embodying a novel construction and arrangement of ailerons or similar control surfaces. I i

Other objects of the invention are to pro vide an aeroplane of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, light in weight, safe andreliable in operation, which is capable of carrying comparatively heavy loads on nonstop flights for great distances, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

through a forward portion of the aeroplane.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 55 of F igure 2 with the fuselage removed.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing one of the ailerons or control surfaces.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a cowling l which is disposed longitudinally and which includes a thickened portion 2 whichis substantially of the shape which is illustrated to advantage in Figure 4 of the drawings. Mounted transversely on the rear portion of the cowling 1 Figure 1 isa view in horizontal section 1932. serial No. 626,801.

is a wing 3 of suitable construction, said wing projecting rearwardly beyond the cowling and having a recess inan intermediate portion thereof, as at 4, for the reception of the fuselage 5 which is secured'to the rear end of the cowling 1. The fuselage 5 is narrow and comparatively deep and tapers toward its rear end upon which a tail assembly designated generally by the referencenumeral 6 is operatively mounted. The front or nose of the fuselage 5 is substantially blunt or rounded, as clearly as seen in Figures 2 ands of the drawings. A strut 7 is mounted vertically on the rear end of the cowling 1 anda bowed strut 8 is mounted on the forward end of said cowling. Operable in the cowling 1 is a substantially helical propeller 9 having its supporting trunnions journaled in the struts 7 and 8. The reference numeral 10 designates an engine which is mounted in the forward portion of the fuselage 5, said engine being operatively connected to the propeller 9 by a train of reduction gears 11 or the equivalent thereof. I

Radially; mounted at spaced points on the rear portion of the cowling l and projecting rearwardly therefrom are stationary, substantially triangular fins 12. 'Ailerons or control surfaces 13 are hingedly mounted, as at 14, for swinging movement on the rear edges of the fins 12. Arms 15 are fixed to the lower portions of the ailerons 13 and extend into the rear portion of the cowling l, as best seen in F igure'G of the drawings. Mounted in the rear portion of the cowling 1 is a series of circumferentially extending guides 16 (see Figure 5) in which a cable 17 is operable. The cable 17 is connected to the free end portions of the arms 15 and provides means for actuating the ailerons 13 in unison.

The reference numeral 18 designates a pilot house or control room which is mounted on top of the cowling 1. The control room 18 is suitably equipped and is provided with windows 19. A lever 20 is pivotally mounted for lateral swinging movement in the 0011- trol room 18 and is connected at its lower end to the cable 17. The lever 20, of course, constitutes means for actuating the ailerons 13.

The reference numeral 21 designates a landing gear depending from the cowling 1, said landing gear including rubber tired wheels 22.

In flight, the propeller 9 draws the aeroplane forwardly, as will be understood. Of course, when the propeller 9 is rotated, air is drawn through the cowling 1 and is discharged past the comparatively narrow fuselage 5. lVhen it is desired to bank the plane, as in turning, the ailerons 13 are actuated in the proper direction. If desired, the ailerons 13 may be operatively connected in any suitable manner with the rudder of the tail assembly 6 for operation in unison with said rudder. Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the control surfaces comprising the tail assembly 6 from the control room 18. The fuel tank for the engine 10 is preferably mounted in the fuselage 5.

It is believed that the many advantages of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with the present inventionv will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which. will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

, I claim;

1. An aeroplane comprising a longitudinal cowling,.a wing mounted transversely on the cowling and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said wing having a recess extending into an intermediate portion thereof rearwardly of the cowling, a fuselage engaged in the recess andsecured on the rear end of the cowling, a propeller rotatably mounted in the cowling, and means for actuating the propeller.

2. An aeroplane comprising a longitudinalthe cowling and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said wing having a recess extending thereinto at an intermediate point rearwardly of the cowling, a fuselage mounted on the rear end portion of the cowling and projecting rearwardly therefrom, the recess accommodating the fuselage, control surfaces mounted on the rear end of the fuselage, a control room mounted on top of the cowling, a substantially helical propeller rotatably mounted in the cowling, a power plant mounted in the fuselage, and means for operatively connecting the propeller with the power plant.

4. An aeroplane comprising a longitudinal annular cowling, a wing mounted transversely on the cowling, a fuselage connected to the cowling, a propeller operable in the cowling, and a circumferential series of radial ailerons hingedly mounted on the cowling.

5. An aeroplane comprising a longitudinal cowling, a wing mounted transversely on the cowling, a fuselage connected to the cowling, a propeller operable in the cowling, means for actuating the propeller, stationary fins mounted radially at spaced points on the cowling, ailerons hingedly mounted on the fins, and means for actuating the ailerons in the same direction in unison.

6. An aeroplane comprising a longitudinal cowling, a wing mounted transversely on the cowling, a propeller operable in the cowling, means for operating the propeller, ailerons hingedly mounted on the cowling, guides mounted in the cowling, arms fixed to the ailerons, a cable operable in the guides and connected. to the arms for actuating the ailerons inunison, and a lever connected to the cable for actuating said cable.

7. An aeroplanecomprising alongitudinal cowling, a wing mounted transversely on the cowling, a propeller operable in the cowling, means for actuating the propeller, stationary fins mounted radially, at spaced points, on the cowling, ailerons hingedly mounted on the fins, arms fixed to the ailerons, circumferentially extending guides mounted in the cowling, a cable operable in the guides and connected to the arms for actuating the ailerons in unison, and a lever connected to the cable for actuating said cable.

LEONARD C. MICHAELSEN. 

